



i'i(i:si;.NTKi) m- 




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THE 



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MOUNTAIN Campaigns 



IN GEORGIA^ 



OR- 



War Scenes on the W. & A. 



Qyo-Mvv, ^o««,lli l* > ■ 



• • • 



SIXTH EDITION. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord 1890, 

Bv JOS. M. BROWN, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. D. C. 







Thk Maitiiews-Northrui' Co., Complete Art-Pkinting Works, Buefaui, N. Y. 

1895. 



PREFACE 



THE AUTHORITIES principally consulted in preparing the text of this publication 
are Johnston's "Narrative," Sherman's "Memoirs," Cox's "Atlanta," the "Report 
of the Committee on the Conduct of the War," and magazine articles b}- General S. G. 
French and Major George S. Storrs, and the daily files of the Atlanta Inttlligcnccr, issued 
during the years of 1863 and 1864. 

The cuts, which were prepared b}' Mr. A. R. Waud, who personally visited all of the 
battlefields depicted, and by Messrs. T. de Thulstrup and Joseph Fleming, have been 
drawn with scrupulous regard to historic accurac}-, as well as artistic skill, and engraved b}' 
Matthews, Northrup & Co., of Buffalo, N. Y., Fleming, Brewster & Alley, of New York 
City, and others. The maps, drawn and engraved by Matthews, Northrup & Co., of Buf- 
falo, N. Y., are based on the authority of Sherman's maps of the Atlanta Campaign, with 
corrections when proper, and speak for themselves as models of their kind. 

If there be errors of fact, or aught else subject to criticism herein, it is hoped that 
lenient judgment will be passed, when it is taken into consideration that the matter has 
been prepared during only such time as could be snatched from that required for super- 
vision over the freight and passenger tratific of a railroad, the most of whose business is 
competitive. 

Atlanta, Ga., January, 1886. 






-H MOUNTAIN (mpfmmm, 







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^ or Waryeene/ on tKe-W-6-A-> 




N NONE of the campaigns of the gigantic "War between the States" was 
there a more notable display of adroit, wary, far-reaching strategic genius, and 
g| prudent, patient, watchful care on the part of the great commanders; of zeal- 
ous, skillful and fearless leadership by their field officers, or of more heroic bravery, 
fortitude and cheerful endurance by the soldiery, than in those of 1863 and 1864, during 
which the world became familiar with the names of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
Ringgold, Rocky Face, Dalton, Resaca, Allatoona, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. 

Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Rosecrans, Thomas, McPherson, Schofield, Hooker, Corse, 
Blair, Harker, Kilpatrick, Stoneman, and a half score of others scarcely less famous, on 
some or all of these fields directed and led the hundred thousand and upwards, who 
followed the "bright starry banner" of the Union; while Bragg, and afterwards Johnston, 
with Hardee, Hood, Polk, Longstreet, Cleburne, Breckenridge, Buckner, Forrest, French, 
Walthall and Wheeler, with brother-chieftains as valiant and devoted, showed that the 
South had sent her brainiest and bravest to endeavor, with their fifty thousand men, to 
stem the tide of invasion which was rolling through Georgia, the Keystone State of the 
Confederacy, against Atlanta, which was then, as now, considered the " Heart of the South." 

To the essayist, wishing to immortalize with his pen the great deeds of great men, here 
is opened one of History's favorite chapters; to the artist, eager to depict the romantic and 
picturesque in warfare, here, too, is displayed the scenery which thrills the emotions; while 
to the patriot, who delights to speak of the achievements of men who dared face death 
for their country, their cause and their flag, here is shown the theatre of their toils and 
their glory. 

With these few reflections, let us now turn immediately to the record of the stirring 
events between Chattanooga, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta, which twenty-two years 
ago were the cynosure of the eyes of the civilized world. 

Early in September, 1863, General Rosecrans succeeded in capturing Bridgeport, Ala., 
thus securing a crossing over the Tennessee River. 



12 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



He then pushed Thomas and McCook, with their corps, across Sand Mountain and 
Lookout Mountain, into Georgia, and obtained possession of the passes leading into 
McLemore's Cove, from wliich West Chickamauga Creek flows northeastward, and, joining 
the main Chickamauga, empties into the Tennessee River just east of Chattanooga. 

This made their position in 



Chattanooga a perilous one for 
the Confederates, inasmuch as 
Rosecrans's movements, if carried 
out successfully, would have se- 
cured for him possession of Dal- 
ton and Rome, and thus broken 
Bragg's communications with At- 
lanta, and forced him to have 
retreated through East Tennes- 
see, and left Georgia at the mercy 
of the Federal arms. 

As one of the Southern news- 
papers of that day said, of the 
game of military chess which was 
then being played, "The enemy 
attacked with his Knight both 
our Queen, Atlanta, and our 
Castle, Chattanooga. Did it re- 
quire a moment to decide what 
should be the move?" 

Bragg accordingly evacuated 
Chattanooga on September 7, 
1863, and retired to a position 
between Ringgold and Graysville, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and La Fayette, 
in Walker county, west of the railroad. His main army was posted along the road leading 
from Gordon's Mil! to La Fayette, facing the passes through which Rosecrans was about 
to make his entrance into McLemore's Cove. 

On the 9th of September, the Federal army occupied Chattanooga. During the next 
ten days there was almost daily skirmishing, and, on some occasions, vigorous fighting, 
at various points between Ringgold and La Fayette. There was also a sharp cavalry 
contest at Catoosa Springs, near the Western & Atlantic Railroad, September nth, which 
resulted in the retreat of the Confederates to Tunnel Hill, where they received re-enforce- 
ment.s. At Ringgold a heavy cavalry fight also ensued on September nth. The Con- 
federates were at first driven into the town; but here r.dlied, and, under General Forre.st, 
repulsed the Federals, and drove them off in disorder. 

The two armies were maneuvering for position — Rosecrans being resolved to hold 
Bragg off, until he could secure such a disposition of his own as was essential to success : 




GErJ, WM. T. SHERMAN, 



IV J A' SCENES ON T El E IV. &- A. 



13 



while Bragg, on the contrary, was determined to force an engagement at the earliest 
attainable date, with the object of crushing Rosecrans's army, in a general engagement, if 
it were at all possible. 

It is not practicable, in our limited space, to give scarcely any of these movements 
in detail. 

On the 1 8th of September ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^' "'''""* 
was fired the first gun of what is 
known as the great battle of 
Chickamauga. The position of 
the two armies that morning, in 
brief, was as follows : 

Rosecrans occupied the 
northwest bank of West Chicka- 
mauga Creek, his line extending 
along its sinuous course for a 
dozen miles or more, guarding 
all the fords, bridges, or other 
places of transit, for the purpose 
of preventing a crossing by the 
Confederate army. 

The Confederates were on 
the southeast side of the creek, 
which is very muddy and gener- 
ally quite deep ; and Bragg's idea 
was to force his way over, at 
various points, and fight the bat- 
tle on the Chattanooga side of 
the Creek. 

At Reed's Bridge, in Catoosa 
county, Ga., some seven miles west of Ringgold, a detachment of Michigan cavalry was 
stationed, with orders to prevent any advance by the Confederates. Having been there 
for a day or more, their commander determined, that morning, to send about 200 mounted 
men across the bridge, for the purpose of making a reconnoissance, and developing the 
Confederate position. At the same time he ordered that the planks be loosened, so that, 
when the cavalry returned, these could be dropped into the creek, and the bridge thus 
practically destroyed. The detachment crossed the stream, as ordered, and the work of 
loosening the planks was commenced by the others. 

The scouting party, however, had scarcely begun deploying on the east side of the 
creek before the Confederates, who had been watching them some couple of hundred yards 
distant, at the edge of the woods on the summit of the elevation rising from the bridge, 
opened fire, from a couple of pieces of artillery. The very first discharge secured the 
range of the bridge, and a bombshell exploding upon it, knocked up some of the planks, 




GtN. JObEPM E. JOHNSTON. 



14 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

and killed one man, and wounded two others. Almost at the same instant a volley 
of musketry was fired from the s;ime position. 

The work of destruction of the bridge by the Federals instantly ceased, and there 
was a stampede for cover to the forest near by. The detachment of cavalry on the east 
bank, seeing the folly of attempting to cross the bridge under a raking fire, galloped 
northeastward, down the creek, endeavoring to find some other crossing place. After 
going about a mile and a half and finding no regular ford, they swam their horses through 
the stream, anti thus escaped. 

In the meantime, the Confederates charged across the bridge, dispersed the cavalry, 
and immediately turned do\vnward, towards Alexander's Bridge, about one mile and a half 
distant, antl, after quite a struggle, possession of this was also secured. 

Later on, during the day, crossing was effected at several other points. Accordingly, 
the next morning found Bragg's army, in line of battle, on the northwest side of West 
Chickamauga Creek. 

The struggle then began, which continued with such desperate fury, and resulted in 
such distressing carnage to both sides, during the next three days. 

Bragg's object seems to have been to crush Rosecrans's left wing, and secure posses- 
sion of the road leading through Missionary Ridge, via Rossville, to Chattanooga. 

The result of the battle is well known. Rosecrans's army was routed and driven back 
to Chattanooga; and, but for the stand which General Thomas took, on Snodgrass Hill, 
and his heroic defence of that position, and the check which he gave to the Confederates 
at that point, the defeat of Rosecrans would have been a crushing one, and the sweep of 
the Confederate advance may have extended back to Kentuck)', and have almost changed 
the fate of the war. " But great battles are fought behind the stars." 

The struggle at Snodgrass Hill was desperate and bloody in the extreme, and was 
characterized as being " unquestionably one of the most terrific musketry duels ever 
witnessed " ; but Thomas, having been re-enforced by Granger and Steadman, who had 
moved, without orders, to join him, held this position until all the rest of the Federal line 
of battle had been routed, and only retreated on the evening of the 20th, under orders 
from General Rosecrans himself. 

The total losses sustained have never been definitely ascertained ; but it is generally 
estimated that there were over 26,000 men killed and wounded in the two armies, during 
these bloody three days, on and near the banks of the Chickamauga, or " River of 
Death," as the Indians had prophetically named it. 

Among the killed was the Federal General Lytle, the author of the famous and 
beautiful poem, " I am dying, Egypt, dj'ing." 

Of his death, the jYtis/n'tV/f Union, a few days after the battle, said : 

" He, with hundreds of his loyal soldiers, has consecrated witli his life-blood the soil 
of Georgia to the Republic. Let us solemnly pledge ourselves that the State thus baptized 
by blood so dear shall never pass from the possession of the Union. It is our heritage and 
the heritage of our children forever, signed to us in the name of freedom and sealed with the 
blood of patriots " 



JI'.iA- SCENES ON THE W. & A. 



10 



The Confederates captured 8,ooo prisoners, 51 cannon, over 15,000 stand of small 
arms, about 40 standards, and an enormous amount of army stores. 

The battle-field was principally in a level, thickly-wooded plain, where it was hard to 
use artillery with much effect, and where the movements of large bodies of troops were 
veiled in obscurity. 

It is stated that there were numerous instances of where portions of one army's Ime 
were driven back by its enemy, and these, in turn, would soon find themselves caught by a 
cross-fire, or almost surrounded by a counter successful movement by the other side. 




THE FIRST GUN AT CHICKAMAUGA. 

Septonbcr iS, iSO}. 

The Confederates openinj,' fire upon the Federal cavalr>-, who had begun the destruction of Reed's Bridge. 

The Strength of Rosecrans's army, during the three da\-s' struggle, was 64,392 men. 
Bragg opened with 33,583 the first day; but, during the second, was re-enforced by Long- 
street's corps, which had just arrived from Virginia, and which made his total force 
engaged 47,321. 

Longstreet's troops arrived via the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and deployed from 
the trains at Ringgold and Greenwood, just below, and hurried into the midst of the fray. 

As the result of this battle, the Federal army was driven back into Chattanooga ; 
and the Confederates occupied Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, from which 



16 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

latter they could overlook Chattanooga, and by the possession of which they were 
enabled to break Rosecrans's communications by rail with Nasiiville. They also re- 
occupied Bridgeport. 

Thus matters continued for two months, during which there was great suffering 
among the Federal soldiery, in Chattanooga, on account of the difficulty in getting 
provisions, stores, etc., across the country in wagons. 

By the end of that time, however, the Union army had been very largely re-enforced, 
and General Grant had come to Chattanooga and taken personal command. He also had 
with him Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, McPherson, Hooker, and other leaders of 
national reputation for marked ability. 

In the meantime, Bragg had sent Longstreet's corps to Knoxville, for the purpose of 
reducing that point, and repossessing East Tennessee. 

This movement had weakened his numbers at Chattanooga very materially ; so that 
when, on the morning of November 24, 1863, General Grant made his attack upon Bragg, 
with about 65,CX)0 of the best-equipped and bravest soldiers in America, the latter con- 
fronted him with a line extending about seven miles from the crest of Lookout Mountain, 
across the gap between that and Missionary Ridge, and thence along the summit of 
Missionary Ridge, almost to the present Boyce Station, on the Western & Atlantic 
Railroad, with a total force of scarcely more than 35,000 men. 

During the forenoon of November 24th, Hooker's corps, covered by the fire of heavy 
guns on Moccasin Point, cUmbed through the clouds, concealing its movements, up the sides 
of Lookout Mountain, which was held by Walthall's brigade of Confederates. 

The Confederate force, during the early portion of the fight, consisted of 1,489 men. 
Durin<T the evening they received re-enforcements of about 600 more. The contest continued 
fiercely, amid the thick mists which completely enveloped the steep and craggy heights, 
until about two o'clock A. Vl. of November 25th, when the mountain was abandoned by 
the Confederates, who retired, in comparatively good order, down its sides across Chat- 
tanooga Creek Valley to Missionary Ridge. Several hundred of them, however, were cut 
off and captured. During the latter part of the fight the clouds drifted from the moun- 
tain side, exposing the majestic panorama to the eyes of the Confederates on Missionary 
Ridge. The view from the Ridge is said to have been magnificently grand, the flashings 
and blaze of musketry and artillery being almost incessant, while, like distant angry 
thunder, the reverberations rolled far across the hills and down the long valleys. 

On the morning of the 25th, the combat began all along the line for about a half a 
dozen miles. The evolutions of the Federal army, on the plain below, were described by 
the Confederates as being as regular as upon dress parade. The assault was impetuous ; 
but for several hours it appeared as if the Confederates would hold the position. Sher- 
man's attack upon the Confederate right met a masterly repulse at the hands of the lion- 
hearted Cleburne. The assault was renewed with desperate energy; but again Cleburne 
held his own, against fearful odds, hurling back the attacking columns with great loss, and 
capturing eight stands of colors. General Hardee, who commanded the Confederate right 
wing, was at ail points along his front as the terrific struggle progressed. His troops had 



18 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

repulsed the Federal attack upon them wherever made, and were cheeriny for victory at the 
very moment (Grant's columns were breaking through the Confederate left center, and rend- 
ing the air with their enthusiastic shouts. General Cheatham, discovering the catastrophe, 
galloped to his left, and formed Walthall's brigade of his division across the ridge, and 
checked the Federals on his flank, and, with his command, held this point, while Cleburne 
also maintained his position till tlark, when the entire right \\\wg drew off, in good order 
and without the loss of a single gun in any of its batteries. 

Soon after the Confederate center was broken, about four P. M., the entire line, except 
the right, gave way ; and the result was a disastrous rout of Bragg's army, with a loss of 
about 40 pieces of artiller\', 6,000 prisoners, and 3.100 killed and wounded. The loss of the 
Federal army in killed and wounded was 5,286 men, besides 337 missing. 

The next day there was a very spirited conflict near Chickamauga Station, on the 
Western & Atlantic Railroad. The Confederates were partially intrenched, but soon 
abandoned the position. 

That evening the head of Sherman's columns encountered the rear-guard of Bragg's 
retreating army near Graysville, also a station on the railroad. The fight w^as quite sharp ; 
but a dark night closed upon the combatants; and, during the night, the Confederates 
retired.* 

The next day Hooker, rapidly pursuing, found General Cleburne awaiting him with 
his division at Ringgold. Cleburne had stationed his forces on the ridge just southeast 
of Ringgold, and in the ravine by which the Western & Atlantic Railroad passes through 
it. The Confederates had two pieces of artillery masked behind Screens of withered 
branches in the ravine. The Federal head of column passed through the town ; but 
suddcnl)-, in this mountain pass, discovered the Confederate forces in front, from whom 
a destructive fire was opened upon them. As they were thus thrown into disorder, the 
masked battery opened with terrible effect upon their flank; and the}' were compelled 
to retire precipitately to the plain, in which the town is located. 

They here formed and made a determined attack upon the Confederates at all points. 
The fighting in the ravine through which the railroad runs, and in the counter ravine at 
the northern end of the short ridge extending from the pass, several hundred yards 
parallel to the railroad, was very desperate and bloody. The assaulting columns made 
some progress up the sides of the ridge, when tlie fire from the Confederate line became 
so destructive, and the rolling of huge rocks down the mountain slope threw the assailants 
into such confusion, and inflicted such loss, that the}' were compelled to give over the 
attack and await the arrival of re-enforcements. The Confeilerates afterwards retired 
unmolested. 

This vigorous resistance, on Cleburne's part, temporarih- checked the puisuit of 
Bragg's army, and saved a \-ery large wagon train, which had been parked at Catoosa 
Station, and which the Confederates were preparing to burn, in the event that Cleburne 
was driven back from Ringgold. 

* Graysville was also the scene of a hot fight between Wheeler's Confederate cavalry and the Federals, on .\ugust lOth 
of the same year. This was during the siege of -Vtlanta. and 1 lood had sent Wheeler to raid Sherman's communications. 



20 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



CHWTTANOOGA') 



Rojcc Sla. JIA]' OF 

•CHATTANOOGA- 
AMD VICINITY. 



l'i''!i'V)\Chlckamausa Stai ■ ' 
.^-Battle, >"ov. ac. iJSii. i 



One of the relics of this bloody struggle is the Jobc house, which stands in the 
northern end of the pass, on the west side of the railroad. 

On the tlay of the battle, some of Hooker's men took slicltcr in this, and. from the 
windows and doors, maintained a hot fii'c upon the Confederates on the ridge and in the 
pass. The latter in return kept a storm of bullets pouring upon the house, the numerous 
marks of which are still plainly visible. 

The ne.xt day, the Confederates, who had retired to Tunnel Hill, v/ere assailed by the 
Federal forces with a courage 
almost amounting, it is said, to 
rashness ; but they held the posi- 
tion, and the Federals then re- 
tired to Ringgold, and afterwards 
to Chattanooga, tearing up the 
railroad behind them, thus leav- 
ing the beautiful Chickamauga 
Valley as a sort of neutral zone 
between the hostile forces. 

From that date, there was 
comparative quiet between the 
two armies for nearly three 
months ; but, on the 23d of Feb- 
ruary, 1864, the Federals made a 
movement in heavy force, with 
the intention of securing posses- 
sion of Dalton, if possible, while 
the Confederate army was weak- 
ened by the absence of Hood's 
corps, consisting of Cheatham's, 
Cleburne's and Walker's divisions, which had been sent to Mississippi to re-enforce 
General Polk. 

Just here it is proper to state that, during the winter. General ]>ragg had been relieved, 
at his own request, from the command of the Confederate army of Tennessee, and the 
Richmond government, in compliance with almost the open demand of Southern popular 
opinion, had appointed General Joseph E. Johnston to succeed him, and he had proceeded 
to Dalton and assumed command December 27, 1863. 

Later on, General Grant had been appointed Lieutenant-General of the armies of the 
United States, and had transferred his head-quarters to Virginia; and had designated 
General Wm. T. Sherman as his successor over the Department of the Mississippi, which 
included Tennessee and Georgia. General .Sherman enteretl upon his duties March 18, 
1864, General Thomas having liad temporary charge of the I'ederal forces at Chattanooga, 
after General Grant proceeded east, just as General Hardee had temporarily commanded 
the Confederate army at Dalton, after General Hiagg's retirement. 




i;«!THHur fc Cw., MH-rfliNiiNa wjNkS, euF»Aiu>, k.t. 



22 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

The Federal columns, February 23d, united in front of Ringgold, and advancing, 
attacked the Confederate cavah)-, and, after a sharp fight, drove it from the village of Tun- 
nel Hill to the heights beyond; but were here checked by the artilleiy fire, and fell back. 

The next day, the Federal army advanced in three columns, and compelled the Con- 
federates to retire. The latter took position in Crow Valley (lying east of Rocky Face 
Ridge and north of Mill Creek Gap). The Federals encamped in the valley immediately 
west of the pass through which the railroad runs. 

On the morning of the 25th, the Federal skirmishers engaged Stewart's and Brecken- 
ridge's divisions in Mill Creek Gap, and desultory firing was maintained throughout the 
day. This culminated in a determined but unsuccessful attempt to storm the position 
that afternoon. 

During the same afternoon a very obstinate fight took place between the two armies, 
the divisions of Davis and Johnson attempting to drive the Confederates from Mill Creek 
Gap, while Cruft's and Baird's divisions, with Long's cavalry, attacked five brigades of 
Hindman's and Stevenson's divisions, east of Rocky Face Ridge, with the intention of 
defeating these, if possible, and then attacking in the rear the Confederate force which 
was holding Mill Creek Gap against Davis and Johnson; but at night the Federals gave 
over the attempt and fell back. 

During this same day, the Confederate guard, posted in Dug Gap, west of Dalton, 
was driven from it by a regiment of Federal mounted infantiy ; but the next morning 
Granbury's Texas brigade made an impetuous charge, and recaptured the position. 

General Johnston says that in this engagement, "The Federal army had four divisions 
and six regiments — probably at least seventeen brigades; it encountered seven Confed- 
erate brigades on the 25th, and eleven on the 26th." 

General Thomas's report of these operations sustains General Johnston's estimate 01 
the Federal force. 

There was no other engagement between the two armies, until Sherman opened the 
" Atlanta Campaign," during the first week in May, 1864. 

On the 2d day of this month, the Federals made a close rcconnoissance of the Con- 
federate outpost at Tunnel Hill, under the protection of a strong body of infantry, 
cavalry and artillery. They also began repairing the Western & Atlantic Railroad, 
between Chattanooga and Ringgold, which had been torn up the previous winter. 

It may be here remarked that the Western & Atlantic Railroad was the means of 
securing the fall of Atlanta, and, therefore, to a great degree, the overthrow of the 
Southern Confederacy. It was .Sherman's only channel for supplies for his immense army, 
and, during the campaign, he hugged it with a tenacity which showed that he considered it 
indispensable to success. His flank movement through Snake Creek Gap was to gain 
possession of it at Resaca, in the rear of Johnston at Dalton ; his mii\-c against Calhoun, 
south of Resaca, via Lay's Ferry, had the same end in view. Such, likewise, was his 
object, indirectly, in the skillfully-planned and masterly march and struggles about New 
Hope Church, and such was his immediate aim in the movement southwest of Marietta, 
after the failure of his grand and heroic assault upon Kennesaw Mountain. 



24 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

One hundred and forty-five car-loads per day of supplies were needed for the subsistence 
of his army, during the campaign, and over this railroad they were transported from 
Chattanooga. 

To insure its preservation, as he progressed farther and farther southward, he placed 
garrisons to protect each bridge. 

Johnston, too, was fully alive to the supreme importance of this line to both armies, 
and, while his constant endeavor was to protect it behind him, it was also his most ardent 
desire to find some means for breaking it in Sherman's rear; and thus forcing upon the 
latter the alternative of retreat or starvation. To this end he and the Governor of 
Georgia made the strongest appeals to the Richmond government for Forrest's cavalry to 
be brought from Mississippi and kept actively at the work of destruction upon the railroad 
bridges, etc.; using the argument that it was better to take the risk of Federal raids in 
northern Mississippi than to lose the opportunity of forcing into disastrous retreat the 
invading army which was driving its advance like a wedge of steel into the very heart of 
the Confederacy. 

These entreaties, however, were without success, and the Western & Atlantic Rail- 
road, despite Sherman's constant apprehensions of the realization of Jolmston's wish, 
remained the chief means by which the invasion was sustained, and crowned with the fall 
of Atlanta. 

As a prominent Federal authority said, after the war, to a Western & Atlantic official, 
" The Union element cannot be too thankful for the fact that your road was in existence." 

" Then," was the remark, " the W. & A. road should be the pride of every true 
American, if by reason of its existence the Union was saved." 

At the date of the opening of the great Atlanta Campaign, Sherman had a total force 
of 98,797 men and 254 cannon, divided as follows: Army of the Cumberland, under 
Major-General Thomas, 60,773 rnen, and 130 field guns; Army of the Tennessee, under 
Major-General McPherson, 24,465 men, and 96 guns; Army of the Ohio, under Major- 
General Schofield, 13,559 men, and 28 guns. These were further subdivided into 88,188 
infantry, 4,460 artillerymen, and 6,149 cavalry. 

Johnston had 42,856 men and 120 cannon ; the men being divided as follows : infantry 
37,652, artillerists 2,812, and cavalry 2,392. He says of his cannon, however, that only 
about one half of them were effective for service, because of the bad condition of the 
horses, by reason of the scarcity of food during the winter. Within a few days Sherman 
was re-enforced by about 14,000 cavalry, which swelled his total effective force to 112,819 
men. All of these figures are official. 

Added to these were the re-enforcements which the two armies received during the 
campaign, which were as follows: By Sherman, Blair's corps, 9,000 men at Acworth, June 
8th, besides " new regiments and furloughed men " not enumerated ; by Johnston, Canty's 
division of 3,000 at Resaca, May 9th, Lorin^'s of 5,000, at the same point. May nth, and 
French's of 4,000, at Cassville, on May i8th — these three comprising Polk's corps — also 
Martin's division of cavalry, 3,500, May 9th, Jackson's division of cavalry, 3,900, at 
Adairsville, May 17th, ami Quarles's brigade of 2,200, at New Hope Church, May 26th. 



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ART-PRlNTlSi; WolLKS, 

BITKFALX. N- V 



C A R/R 0_L 




ATLANTA 



X 




TAc E'^st and ii'eu of Ahibania and tke Marietta and North Georgia railroads have been btnlt since the tear. 



26 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

While fighting around Kennesaw Mountain, General Johnston also received re-enforce- 
ments of over 3,000 Georgia militia, which Governor Joseph E. Brown, the "War Gov- 
ernor" of Georgia, placed at his disposal. 

During the entire campaign, Goxernor Brown, now United States Senator from 
Georgia, and President of the W^cstern & Atlantic Railroad Company, very zealously and 
energetically seconded General Johnston in evcrj' attempt to check and repel Sherman's 
invasion of the State. 

The highest number of men which Johnston had at any time was 59,248, at Kennesaw 
Mountain. 

Of the opening of this campaign. General Johnston says: 

"On the 5th, the Confederate troops were formed to receive the enemy: Stewart's and Bate's 
divisions, in Mill Creek Gap, in which they had constructed some slight defensive works — the former 
on the right of the stream, Cheatham's on Stewart's right, occupying about a mile of the crest 
of the mountain; Walker's in reserve; Stevenson's across Crow Valley; its left joining Cheatham's 
right, on the crest of the mountain; Hindman's, on the right of Stevenson's; and Cleburne's, 
immediately in front of Dalton, and behind Mill Creek, facing towards Cleveland. 

" On the same day the Federal army was formed in order of battle, three miles in front of 
Tunnel Hill, and in that position skirmished with our advanced guard until dark. It was employed 
all of the next in selecting and occupying a position just beyond the range of the field-pieces of 
the Confederate advanced guard, on which it halted for the night. * * * 

"At day-break, on the 7th, the Federal army moved forward, annoyed and delayed in its 
advance by dismounted Confederate cavalry firing upon it from the cover of successive lines of 
very slight entrenchments, prepared the day before. Its progress was so slow, that the Confederates 
were not driven from Tunnel Hill until eleven o'clock A. M., nor to Mill Creek Gap until three 
P. M. In the afternoon the Federal army placed itself in front of the Confederate line, its right a 
little south of Mill Creek Gap, and its left near the Cleveland road." — (Johnston's Narrative, 
pages 304, 305.) 

General Sherman says of Johnston's position: 

"From Tunnel Hill, I could look into the gorge by which the railroad passed through a 
straight and well-defined range of mountains, presenting sharp palisade faces, and known as 'Rocky 
Face.' The gorge itself was called the ' Huzzard Roost.' We could plainly see the enemy in this 
gorge and behind it, and Mill Creek which formed the gorge, flowing toward Dalton, hati been 
dammed up, making a sort of irregular lake, filling the road, thereby obstructing it, and the 
enemy's batteries crowned the cliffs on either side." — (Memoirs, Vol. II., page 32.) 

About four o'clock the ne.xt day, Gearj-'s division of Hooker's corps assailed the Con- 
federate outpost in Dug Gap; but two small regiments of Reynolds's Arkansas brigade, 
nf Cleburne's division, under the cominand of Colonel Williamson, held the position, 
until they were joined by Grigsby's Kentuckians. 

The constant firing indicated a serious attack; so much so that Lieutcnant-Gcneral 
Hardee hastened to take personal charge of the defence. The Federals were repulsed at 
this point, and at Mill Creek Gap, and likewise in their attack upon the Confederate posi- 
tion on the crest of the mountain, about a mile and a half north of the gap. 






3 > 

S -Q 




28 MOUNTAIN CAJ/J'A/OW'S IN GliORGIA. 

General J. D. Cox, of Slicniian's arm}', thus refers to this attempt on Dutj Gap: 
"Geary's division of the Twentieth Corps made a strong effort to earry the summit of Rocky 
Face at Dug dap, but were foiled by the same physical difficulties which baffled all other attempts 
along this palisaded riilge. The skirmishers advanced, scrambling over the rocks and through the 
undergrowth, till, already blown and nearly exhausted, they found themselves facing a perpendicular 
wall with only cliffs and crevices leading up through it, the narrow roadway which had been their 
guide being strongly held by the enemy and intrenched. A gallant effort was made to reach the 
crest, but the smaller force of Confederates was led by Ceneral Hardee in person, and held their 
natural fortress." — ("Atlanta," page 35.) 

On the 9th, another attempt, more vigorous and by a larger force, was made upon the 
outposts upon the crest of Rocky Face Ridge. This attack was leil by Harker's brigade 
of Newton's division (Fourth Corps), supported b}' tlie rest of the division, and by Judah's 
division of the Army of tlie Ohio. The Federals were driven back with loss, after making 
five assaults. 

Of this struggle, General Cox tlius writes: 

"The view of the combat above was an exciting one. The line of blue coats could be seen 
among the rocks, nearly at right angles with the line of the ridge, the men at the top in silliouette 
against the sky, close up to the Confederate trenches, where their charges were met with a line of 
fire, before which they recoiled, only to renew the effort, till it became apparent even to the most 
daring that it was useless to lead men against such barriers." — (".\ti.axta," pages 37, 3S.) 

Similar assaults were also made, in strong force and with great vigor, upon Stewart's 
and Bate's divisions in Mill Creek Gap ; but the Confederates maintained their position. 

On this same day quite an important fight occurred at Resaca, between two brigades 
of Confederates, under General Canty, and the Army of the Tennessee, under Major-Gen- 
eral McPherson, who had made a flank movement through Snake Creek Gap, for the 
purpose of capturing the town and railroad briilge, in Jnhnston's rear, wliich lasted till 
dark, and resulted in the repulse of the Federals. 

During the night. General Johnston sent down General Hood with three divisions, 
under Generals Hindman, Cleburne and Walker, di.d, finding tnese too strong for him, 
McPherson retreated to Snake Creek Gap and intrenched. 

Snake Creek Gap, which played so important a part in this movement, and in shaping 
tiie general results of the campaign, cannot be better described than in the following 
quotation, also, from General Co.x : 

"Snake Creek is an insignificant branch of the Oostanaula, running southward between high 
and rugged ridges, which, on the east, are nearly continuous with Rocky Face, and are known by 
the general name of Chattoogata Mountains. On the west the parallel range is called Horn 
Mountain. A watershed half way from Tunnel Hill to the Oostanaula separates the sources of 
Mill Creek from those of Snake Creek, and this divide is properly the gap. The whole pass, 
however, is known by the name, and is a wild and picturesque defile, five or six miles long. Hardly 
a cabin was to be seen in its whole length. The road was only such a track as country wagons had 
worn in the bed of the stream or along the foot of the mountain. The forest shut it in, and only 
for a little while at midday did the sun enter it. Near its southern extremity * * * it 
reached the more open country bordering the river, which here runs for a little way nearly west, 
and roads branch off to Resaca, eastward, and southward to Calhoun, turning the south end of 



i ^^^.^l&/ 



'?:«SS^.;, ■:;:,,_..:. /-ji^b^ 



_ > 







30 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

the precipitous ridges, which guard Dalton on the west. Resaca itself stands in tlie ellrow at the 
junction of the Connasauga with the Oostanaula, and on the north bank of the latter stream. 
Camp Creek, another small stream, flows into the river just west of the village, and the high 
plateau bordering it and the more rugged hills between it and the Connasauga a little further 
north, made it a very strong place for the intrenched camp which the Confederate commander had 
prepared there." — ("Atlanta," pages 35, 36.) 

General Sherman says of this engagement that McPhcrson : 

"* * * had not done the full measure of his work. He had in hand twenty-three thousand 
of the best men of the army, and could have walked into Resaca (then held only by a small 
brigade), or he could have placed his whole force astride the railroad above Resaca, and there have 
easily withstood the attack of Johnston's army, with the knowledge that Thomas and Schofield 
were on his heels. * * * Such an opportunity does not come twice in a single life; but at the 
critical moment McPherson seems to have been a little timid. Still he was perfectly justified by his 
orders, and fell back, and assumed a defensive position in Sugar Valley, on the Resaca side of 
Snake Creek Gap. As soon as I was informed of this, I determined to pass the whole army 
through Snake Creek Gap, and move on to Resaca with the main army." — (Sherman's Memoirs^ 
Vol. II., pages 34, 35.) 

During the next day, another attempt was made upon the Confederates at Mill Creek 
Gap ; but resulted in a Federal repulse. 

On the evening of the nth. General Johnston ordered General Wheeler to move, at 
daylight the next day, around the end of Rocky Face Kidge, towards Tunnel Hill, with 
all his available cavalry, to ascertain if the movement southward by the Federal army had 
been a general one. General Hindman was instructed to support Wheeler with his divi- 
sion. The Confederates encountered Stoneman's cavalry at this point, and drove them 
back, with a loss to the latter of 150 men and some 400 loaded wagons. 

This rcconnoissance confirmed the impression that almost the entire Federal army was 
marching toward Snake Creek Gap, on its way to Resaca. 

Accordingly, Dalton * was evacuated the next day by the Confederate army, which 
retired to Resaca. 

" The Federal army approaching Resaca on the Snake Creek Gap road, was met about a mile 
from the place by Loring's division, and held in check long enough to enable Hardee's and Hood's 
corps, then just arriving, to occupy their ground undisturbed. As the army was formed (in two 
lines) Polk's and Hardee's corps were west of the place and railroad, facing to the west; the former 
on the left, with its left resting on the Oostanaula. Hood's corps extended from Hardee's right 
across the railroad to the Connasauga, facing to the northwest. 

"There was brisk skirmishing all the afternoon of May 13th on Polk's front, and that of 
Hardee's left division — Cheatham's." — (Johnston's Narrative, pages 309, 310.) 

Early the next day, the skirmishers became engaged along the entire line, begin- 
ning on the west. "Those of Polk's corps, from some unaccountable mistake, abandoned 
their ground, which was regained only by great personal efforts on the part of their field 

*0n August 15, 1S64, Dalton was captured by Wheeler's cavalry, who were raiding Sherman's communications. 
The Confederates secured 200 prisoners and destroyed considerable army stores, etc.. and then went northward. 

Dalton was also captured by Hood's army, on its grand retrograde movement, after the fall of Atlanta. There was 
a sharp fight south of the town. The Confederates here captured the garrison, a regiment of negro troops. This was 
on October 13, 1S64. 





/ ' WAR GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA. 



33 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



officers. * * * Avigorous assault was made up,.,! I liiulman's division; but the assail 
ants were repulsed." 

Later on during the day, Lieutenant-General Hood was ordered to attack the Federal 
left, with Stewart's and Stevenson's divisions. This movcnu-nt began about six o'clock in 
the afternoon, and was conducted bj- the Confederates with a.lniirable precision and vigor 
and before dark the Federal left was driven from its ground. ' 

Late in the afternoon, the Federals, under McPherson, however, drove Polk's advanced 
hnes from the lull in front of his left, which commanded the Western & Atlantic Rail- 
road bridge over the Oostanaula. 

During the night, the Confederates, under the direction of Colonel Prcstman the chief 
engmeer, made a road, and placed a pontoon bridge across the river, about a mile above 

that commanded by the Federal 
artillery. 

On the 1 5th, sharp skirmishing 
commenced early, along the whole 
line, and continued tliroughout 
the day. Several determined 
attacks were made upon Hind- 
man's position ; in the last, espec- 
ially, the assailants exhibited the 
utmost bravery, many of them 
reaching the Confederate in- 
trcnchments. 

The Federals here charged 
across a broad meadow, from the 
cover of a wooded ridge, and 
assaulted the Confederates on 
the opposite ridge; but, after a 
blood}^ struggle, were repulsed. 
Seeing that they would be sub- 
jected to a destructive fire in 
crossing the valley again, a large 
portion of them took refuge be- 
hind the steep sides of a sort of 
spur ridge in front of the main 
one, and there remained until 
after tlark, before \-enturing back 
to their former positions. 
About noon, a strong force of I'ederal cavalry captured the hospitals of Hood's corps 
which were located east of the Connasauga River. Major-General Wheeler, with Allen's 
and Hume's brigades, made a gallant attack, and drove off the Federals, however, and 
pursued them two miles, capturing two standards and s.-me jirisoners. 




34 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



Dunng the forenoon. Major-Gcncral Stevenson was directed by Licutenant-General 
Hood to advance and mask a four-<.un battery some eighty yards in front of his Hne of 
mfantry, wh.ch was near the U'estern & Atlantic Railroad, north of Resaca. Before 
Stevenson had arranged properly to support it, General Hood ordered him to open its 
fire. Th.s was done, and a furious attack was immediately made upon it by Hooker's 
corps, winch was facmg Hood's at this point. The guns were abandoned by the Confed- 
erates, and a very sp.nted fight for their possession ensued, ui,ich resulted in the Federals 
bemg dnven back from them by the fire of the Confederates ; but they found shelter in the 
ne.ghbonng ravme. From this position, their musketry commanded the location of the 
baery equally as well as did that of the Confederates. A very hot fire was kept up by 
bo hs>des,wh,ch prevented either from removing the guns, and they were consequently 
left between the two armies until dark, and afterwards seized by the Federals 

These were the only field trophies they captured during the entire campaign to the 
Chattahoochee River. 

At about four P. M. General Stewart, whose division was on the Confederate right, was 
ordered to attack the Federals, and endeavor to force their line back. General St:venson 
was to support him with his division. Hearing of the Lay's Ferry movement, bv Sher- 
man, however, General Johnston revoked the order for this assault. The last order did 
not reach Stewart in time. His troops left their intrenchments and dashed forward in 
the face of a terrible fire. Not being supported by Stevenson, who had received General 
Johnston s order, Stewart's men were repulsed with loss. 

During the afternoon. General Johnston received notice that the Federals had secured 
possession of Lays (or Tanner's) Ferry, nearly three miles west of Calhoun, and were 
crossing the Oostanaula River in force. 

His communications with Atlanta, therefore, being rendered too hazardous. Johnston 
evacuated Resaca during the night.* 

The Confederate army, in withdrawing, crossed the river on the railroad bridge and on 
the pontoon bridge one mile above it. General Stewart's division covered the retreat 
remaining m position after the retiring of the other troops on their left had opened to the 
Federals the way to Resaca and their rear. General Stewart himself, it is said was the 
last man to cross the pontoon bridge, which was then destroyed 

The movement which forced this action on Johnston's part, resulted in a fight at 
Lays (or Tanners) Ferry, on May ,4th, whereby the Federal forces secured a crossing, 
but took no further forward step. 

The course of the river, almost parallel to the Western & Atlantic Railroad, protected 
this advance from Johnston's power of discovery or successful resistance. 

On the 15th, Jackson's brigade of Confederates assaulted the Federals, who were 
encamped east of the Oostanaula, but met a bloody repulse. 

* There was also a vigorous fight at Resaca between the Confederate cavalry and the Federal garrison October 12 
1864. The Confederates were repulsed. The next day a portion of Hood's infantry, under General Stewart, appeared 
before the town, and, in Hood's name, demanded its surrender. The demand was refused, and, finding an assault 
hazardous, Stewart moved northward against Dalton. 



3Li MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

On the i6th, the Federals, under RlcPherson, advanced from the ferry, towards 
Calhoun, drivinc; back the ca\ah\- ; but soon came in collision with a portion of Hardee's 
corps and. in turn, sustained a repulse. 

It may be proper here to state that after the war, in disinterring the dead at Resaca, 
there were found the remains of one hundred and seventy Confederates* and seventeen 
hundred and ninety Federals. General Sherman, in his dispatch to General Halleck, May 
15th, said : "I cannot estimate our dead and wounded up to this hour; but it will not fall 
much short of three thousand (3,000)." 

Johnston fell back to Adairsville : but. finding that the breadth of the Oothcaloga 
Valley exceeded so much the front of his army, properly formed for battle, that he could 
obtain no advantage of ground, ordered the troops to move to Cass\-ille. 

During the afternoon of the 17th, the Federals struck the Confederate rear-guard at 
Adairsville ; but, after a sharp conflict with Wheeler's cavalry and Cheatham's division of 
infantr}', were checked. During the night the Confederates evacuated this position. 

Johnston, correctly supposing that the Federal army, in pressing the pursuit, would 
divide, so as to secure passage over more than one road, ordered a vigilant watch kept, 
with the intention of endeavoring to crush one wing before the other could come to its 
relief. The Federal movement being as he foresaw, he ordered Polk to engage, in front, 
the column coming down the road by the railroad, and Hood to attack it in flank when 
Polk's firing began in front. Hood, however, acting on erroneous information about the 
Federal movement, made a different disposition of his line. So much time was lost in 
correcting this mistake, that the intended attack was given over, as its success depended 
upon its being properly timed. This was one of the lost opportunities of the campaign. 

Of this movement, General Sherman saj's: 

"Thomas's head of column which had followed the country roads alongside of the railroad, 
was about four miles east of Kingston, towards Cassville, when, about noon I got a message from 
him that he had found the enemy, drawn up in line of battle, on some extensive, open ground about 
half way between Kingston and Cassville, and that appearances indicated a willingness and prepara- 
tion for battle. 

"Hurriedly sending orders to McPherson to resume the march, to hasten forward by roads 
leading to the south of Kingston, so as to leave for Thomas's troops and trains the use of the main 
road, and to come up on his right, I rode forward rapidly over some rough gravel hills, and about 
six miles from Kingston found General Thomas, with his troops deployed ; but he reported that the 
enemy had fallen back in echelon of divisions, steadily and in superb order, into Cassville." — 
(Memoirs, Vol. II., pages 37, 38.) 

On the 19th of May, Johnston took position near Cassville for what he intended 
should be the great battle of the campaign. 

Of this he sa)-s : 

"The Confederate army was drawn* up in a position that I remember as the best that I saw 
occupied during the war — the ridge immediately south of Cassville with a broad, open, elevated 
valley in front of it, completely commanded by the fire of troops occupying its crest. The 



* There is now a Confederate cemetery just above Resaca. Several hundred Southern soldiers here "sleep the sleep 
that knows no waking." 



WAR SCENES ON THE IV. & A. 



37 



eastern end of this ridge is perhaps a mile to the east of Cassville. Its southwest end is near the 
railroad, a little to the west of Cass Station. Its length was just sufficient for Hood's and Polk's 
corps, and half of Hardee's, formed, as usual, in two lines, and in that order from right to left. The 
other half of Hardee's troops prolonging the line, were southwest of the railroad on undulating 
ground, on which they had only such advantage as their own labor, directed by engineering, could 
give them. They worked with great spirit, however, and were evidently full of confidence. This 
gave me assurance of success on the right and in the center, where we had very decided 
advantage of ground." — (Johnston's Narrative, page 322.) 

During the afternoon, the Federal artiller)' commenced firing upon Hood's and Polk's 
troops. This, with a hea\-y skirmish fire, continued until dusk. 







CAPTURE OF A FEDERAL WAGON TRAIN, 
Near Cassville, Ga., May 24, 1864. 



The bciutiful \iIlTgL rf Ciss 
ville \\as between the two lines 
The contest about the \illage was 
\er\ severe especiallj between the 
bTtteiic- which weie pasted on 
the iidges confiontmg each other 
Sharp skirmishing and fighting oc 
curred on the streets Man\ of the 
houses were riddled with balls, and 
the fine college buildings, especially, 
were pierced through with shot and 
shell. Some of the dwellings were 
also fired by these and consumed. 



38 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GliORGIA. 



At a council of war, held that night, Generals Hood and Polk expressed to General 
Johnston their fears that they could not hold the positions assigned them, because of a 
possible enfilading fire from a Federal battery on the (opposite ridge. General Hardee 
stated that he could hokl his position, although it was a less favorable one, so far as 
the nature of the ground was concerned. 

Johnston was very unwilling to abandon the position without a battle; but finally, in 
deference to the judgment of two of his three Lieutenant-Generals, consented to do so ; 
and accordingly fell back to the 
Etowah River, and crossed it the 
next day. 

On the 22d of the month, 
General Wheeler was instructed 
to go north of the river with his 
cavalry, and ascertain the move- 
ments of the Federal arm\'. He 
soon received information that 
Sherman was moving westward, 
as if to cross the Etowah near 
Stilesboro and Euharlee, and on 
the 24th, in the vicinity of Cass- 
ville, encountered the troops 
guarding a large supply train. 
A sharp fight ensued between 
Wheeler's cavalry and the Feder- 
als, which resulted in the capture 
of 182 prisoners, about 200 
wagons, with army stores, etc. 
The Confederates brought across 
the Etowah River 70 of these 
loaded wagons, with their teams, 
contents, etc., and burned the 
rest. 

The information sccuretl by 
Wheeler showed that Sherman had e\identl\- determined not to move directly against the 
very strong position at Allatoona Pass, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad ; but to pro- 
ceed, via Dallas and Burnt Hickory, against Marietta. This movement was a difficult 
one, being through a rough, densely-wooded country, with few roads and these very 
indififerent, ;uul, furthermore, away from the railroad, his main channel for su[)plics. 

On the 23d, therefore, Lieutenant-General Hardee was ordered, by General Johnston, 
to march, by New Hope Church, to the road leading from Stilesboro through Dallas to 
Atlanta, and Lieutenant-General Polk to move to the same road, by a route further to the 
left. Lieutenant-General Hood was directed to follow Hardee the next da\-. Hardee's 




MATTHEWl, NQHTHRur 4 C 



'XMTiNS wuia, luFfAu:. n. r 



40 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS (N GEORGIA. 

corps reached the point designated to them, tiiat afternoon. Polk's was then within four 
or five miles of it, to the east, and Hood's within four miles of New Hope Church, on the 
road to it from Allatoona. On the 25th he reached New Hope Church early in the day. 
Learning that the Federal arni\- was in close pro.ximity, its right at Dallas, and its line 
extending towards Allatoona. General Hood was ordered by General Johnston to form his 
corps parallel to the road by which he had marched, with his centre opposite the church. 
General Polk was instructed to place his in line with it, but about five miles from this 
position, on the left : and General Hardee was ordered to occupy the ridge extending from 
General Polk's corps across the road leading from Dallas toward Atlanta, his left division, 
Bate's, holding that road. 

During the afternoon, Hood's advanced lines, consisting of one regiment, encountered 
a portion of Hooker's corps. A gallant fight ensued; but the Confederates were driven 
back to Stewart's division. Late in the afternoon, heavy cannonading was opened upon 
Hood's center division, Stewart's, opposite New Hope Church. This was soon supple- 
mented by an attack in line of battle by Hooker's corps, in such deep order that it pre- 
sented a front equal only to that of Stewart's first line, of three brigades. The firing at 
once became general, and the Federal advance was very steady and resolute, until witliin 
some fifty paces of the Confederate lines. Here, however, they paused, and then fell back. 
They again advanced, and pushed as near the Confederate line as before ; but so desperate 
was the resistance, and so hot the fire of musketry and artillery, that the assailants were 
again compelled to retire. 

While the combat was raging, a shell from one of the Federal batteries burst between 
Generals Johnston and Hood, who were standing but a few yards apart, near the church ; 
but fortunately neither of them was hurt. 

In this action portions of two Confederate brigades (Clayton's and Baker's) were 
partially sheltered by some fallen timber, which, finding near their line, they had hastily 
thrown into position. The other brigade ( Stovall's Georgians) had no protection. 

The night, whicli came on, was very dark, with heavy rains; and there was much con- 
fusion in both armies, as they were endeavoring to assume position, facing each other, 
among the thickly-wooded hills, and each industriously working, though in the darkness! 
to strengthen its ground against any sudden a.ssault by its enemy. 
General Sherman says : 

" I slept on the ground without cover, alongside of a log, got little sleep, resolved at dayli-ht 
to renew the battle, and to make a lodgment on the Dallas and Allatoona road if possible, but the 
mornmg revealed a strong line of intrenchments facing us, with a heavy force of infantry and guns. 
The battle was renewed and without success."— (Memoirs, Vol. II., page 44.) 

That morning, the Confederates found the Federal line extending much further east 
than it was the day before. 

In the afternoon, quite a sharp fight occurred between a large body of P^ederal cavalry 
and Avery's regiment of Georgia cavalry. Although desperately wounded. Colonel Avery 
continued to command, and maintained the contest until the arrival of re-enforcements, 
who held the position. 



s 

3 



2 ? 



^ o 



3 

3 




42 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



The Pederals kept rapidly extendi,,.,, tl.eir line to their left, the Confederates beinc. 
forced thereby to counter movements, which soon brou^d,t on another engagement 

Late in the afternoon of the 2;th, a bloody struggle ensued between Cleburne's div-ision 
of Hardee s corps, aided by a portion of Wheeler's dismounted cavalry, and the Fourth 
Army corps of Pederals, under command of General Howard, in columns six lines deep 
near P.cketfs Mill and the road leading from Burnt Hickory. 

The latter assailed the Confederates with great cour-' 
age, and pressed forward with fortitude under fire, which will 
ever be remembered with admiration b\- those who met 
them. The two forces, neither having intrenchments. were 
once within twenty paces of each other ; but. at length the 
Federals were compelled to give way before the terrific 
storm of bullets; and fled for refuge to a ravine near by. 

About ten o'clock that night, ascertaining that 
many of the Federal troops were in the ravine before 
them, the Confederates charged and drove them 
out, taking some 232 prisoners. 

The scene of the struggle was in a dense wood, 
with thick undergrowth, broken by hills and ravines, 
where nothing could be observed at a distance, and 
where neither side could see what was going on, 
except at the immediate point of conflict. 

The acknowledged loss of the Federals in this 
combat was about 1,500 men. Cleburne's loss was 
85 killed and t,6t^ wounded. * 



Among other trophies, the Confederates cap- 
tured some 1,200 small arms. 

General Johnston records the following touching incident of this fic^ht^ 

ii^^:^^:^:^:'^^'''^ "'^"' --' '--^ "-^ '■- «^i-^ «f -^iierly delotion'-- 

On the morning of the 28th. the Confederates, having formed the idea that the 
g ate, port,.,n of t e I-ederal army had been withd,-awn towa,-ds the position in front of 
the Confederate r.ght, detenm'ned to seize the works opposite their left, and thus turn 
She,mans nght; but, after meeting hot resistance fn.m a,-tille,-v and infant.-v were 
repulsed with a loss of several hund,-ed me,i. 

This assault (by IJate's division of IIa,-dee's co,-ps) was made upon Lo..an's corps 

battcrj, .h.ch had been run out near the skirmish line, were captured by the Co.ifeder- 




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75 " O 

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S S CD 



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BATTLE OF PICKETT'S MILL — FIRST VOLLEY FROM THE CONFEDERATES. 
Gen. Patrick R. Cleuurne, Near New Hope Church, west of the Western ^ Atlantic Railroad. Gen. U. O. Howard, 

Commanding Confctlerate Stales Forces. May 2y, iSb4. Commandine United States Forces. 



ates; but tliey could not take them off. The assaulting columns were caught by both a 
front and a cross fire from the breastworks. The Federal General Cox says that "the 
enemy" charged up to the intrenchments "with the most determined courage, and, though 
suffering terribly, was not driven back till he had inflicted considerable loss upon us, some 
of our bravest and best officers being among the killed and wounded."' He further says: 

" The night following (May 29th) another effort was made against McPherson, aiul the alarm 
ran down the whole line. Nearly ail of Johnston's batteries opened from riglit to left, and skirmish 
lines were pushed up close to Sherman's works. The night was dark, anti along the centre, where 
the valley was open, the flashing artillery from the hilltops, and the flying and bursting shells made 
a magnificent spectacle, but it endetl in display. It drew lire enough from McPherson to prove that 
he was still there, and this was probably all that the enemy intended by it." 

Of the general operations during this period, the tw^o great commanders bear witness 
as follows: 

"The Federal intrenched line was extended daily towanl the railroad in the direction of 
Allatoona. We endeavored to keep pace with this extension, to prevent being cut off from the rail- 
road and Marietta. But, from the great inequality of force, two or three miles of the right of ours 
was occupied by dismounted cavalry in skirmishing order. The enemy's demonstrations against 
this part of our front led to skirmishing with Wheeler's troops, in which the latter captured above 
a hundred prisoners between the ist and 4th of June. The infantry skirmishers of the two armies 
were incessantly engaged at the same time, from right to left, when there was light enough to dis- 
tinguish and aim at a man." — (Johnston's Naruai ivk, page 335.) 







GENERAL U, S. GRAMT, 
Crimniander of the Federal Army at the b.^ttle of Missionary Ridi^e 

" Meantime Thomas and Schofield were completing their deployments, gradually overlapping 
Johnston on his right, and thus extending our left nearer and nearer to the railroad, the nearest 
point of which was Acworth, about eight miles distant. All this time a continual battle was in 
progress by strong skirmish lines, taking advantage of every species of cover, and both parties 
fortifying each night by rifle-trenches, with headlogs, many of which grew to be as formidable as 
first-class works of defence. Occasionally one party or the other would make a dash in the nature 
of a sally, but usually it sustained a repulse with great loss of life. I visited personally all parts of 
our lines, nearly every day, was constantly within musket range, and though the fire of musketry 
and cannon resounded day and night along the whole line, varying from si.x to ten miles, I rarely 
saw a dozen of the enemy at any one time, and these were always skirmishers dodging from tree to 
tree, or behind logs on the ground, or who occasionally showed their heads above the hastily con- 
structed but remarkably strong rifle-pits." — (Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. II., page 45.) 

On the 4th of June, the Federal army being concentrated principally on its left, near 
the railroad, and covered by its long line of intrenchments, the Confederates abandoned 
AUatoona and Acworth, and fell back to a new position, near Kennesaw Mountain, their 
left wing resting on Lost Mountain, and their right extending east of the Western & 
Atlantic Railroad and behind Noonday Creek. 

Of this change of base. General Sherman says: 

"On the ist of June, General McPherson closed in upon the right, and, without attempting 
further to carry the enemy's strong position at New Hope Church, I held our general right in close 
contact with it, gradually, carefull}', and steadily working by the left, until our strong infantry lines 
had reached and secured possession of all the wagon roads between New Hope, Allatoona and 
Acworth, when I dispatched Generals Garrard's and Stoneman's divisions of cavalry into Allatoona, 



46 MOUNTAIX CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

the first around by the west end of the pass, and the latter by the direct road. Both reached their 
destination without opposition, and orders were at once given to repair the railroad forward from 
Kingston to Allatoona, embracing the bridge across the Etowah River. 

"Thus the real object of my move on Dallas was accomplished, and on the 41)1 of June I was 
preparing to draw off from New Hope Church, and to take position on the railroad in front of 
Allatoona, when deneral Johnston himself having evacuated his position, we effected the change 
without further battle, and moved to the railroad, occupying it from Allatoona and Acworth for- 
ward to ISig Shanty, in sight of the famous Kennesaw Mountain. * * * * 

"With the drawn battle of New Hope Church, and our occupation of the natural fortress of 
Allatoona, terminated the month of May, and the first stage of the campaign." — (Sherman's 
Memoirs, \'o\. H., pages 46, 49.) 

Thus fell Allatoona, which General Sherman calls "the <rate through the last, or most 
eastern (western?) spur of the Alleghanies." He fortified it strongly, with a fort on each 
side of the pass through which the Western & Atlantic Railroad runs, about 100 feet 
below, and made it his secondary base of supplies, with Acworth as the place of issue. 

Johnston could justly console himself with the knowletlge that the position was 
wrested from him not by assault, nor so much by- pure strategy as by "two to one;" but, 
with the coveted prize in his grasp, Sherman could well afford to feel independent of the 
criticism which minified the glory of the achievement. 

Just here is probably the best place to interject a short reference to a subsequent 
occurrence which has linked the name of Allatoona with one of the most stirring gospel 
lyrics of the Plnglish tongue. 

After the fall of Atlanta, when Hood was making his famous movement toward and 
into Tennessee, in Sherman's rear, he sent General French, with his division, against Alla- 
toona, where General Sherman had stored 2,700,000 rations of bread. 

Learning of this movement. General Sherman signaled from MacRae's Hill, at 
Vining's Station, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad, to the signal station on the crest 
of Kennesaw Mountain, and thence in turn the message was transmitted over the heads of 
the Confederates, "through the sky," to the forts on Allatoona heights, for General John 
M. Corse, at Rome, Ga., to be notified that he must at once hasten to Allatoona with 
re-enforcements for the garrison at that important point ; and that he must hold it. 

Corse, with the least possible delay, started from Rome at eight P. M., October 4, 1864, 
and arrived at Allatoona at one A. M., October 5th. He brought 1,054 men to re-enforce 
Colonel Tourtellotte's garrison of 890, thus making a total, for the defence, of 1,944 
infantry. To this number should be added the force manning a six gun battery. 

He found the outposts already engaged, and, as soon as daylight came, he drew back 
the men from the village to the ridge on which the two forts were built. 

These, by the way, were connected by a bridge which spanned the deep railroad cut. 

Soon thereafter a lively bombardment was opened from a Confederate battery on a 
high hill a few hundred yards to the south; and, at about eight A. M., the Confederates, 
ignorant of Corse's arrival, began the assault, coming from front, 11. mk an<_l rear. 

General Sherman says : 

"These redoubts had been located * * * ^t the time of our advance on Kennesaw, the 
previous June. ICach redoubt overlooked the storehouses close by the railroad, and each could aid 







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48 



J/OC'A'7'A/A' CAJfJ'AJGNS IN GliORGIA. 




the other defensivel_v by catching in flank the attacking force of the other. Our troops at l.rri 
endeavored to hold some ground outside the redoubts, but were soon driven inside, when the enemv 
made repeated assaults, but were always dri\en back. About eleven A. M., Colonel Redfield, oi 
the Thirty-ninth Iowa, was killed, and Coione) Rowett was wounded, but never ceased to fight and 
encourage his men. Colonel Tourtellotte was shot through the hips, but 
continued to command. General Corse was at one P. M., shot across the 
face, the bail cutting his ear, which stunned him, but he continued to 
encourage his men and to give orders. The enemy (about half past one 
P. M.) made a last and desperate effort to carry one of the redoubts, but 
was badly cut to pieces by the artillery and infantry fire from the other, 
when he began to draw off, leaving his dead and wounded on the 
ground." — (Memoirs. Vol II., page 149.) 

General French's assaulting force in this battle was hardly 2,900 
men. The Federal loss, officially reported, was 707 men. General 
French's ofificial report shows that his total loss was 799 men. He 
also states that the attack failed because his ammunition gave out, 
as Hood was not aware that Allatoona was fortified, and had merely ordered him to 
stop there and fill up the railroad cut and then go up and burn the railroad bridge over 
the Etowah River. Hence he did not go prepared for a heavy fight. The above figures, 
however, show how desperate were both the attack and the defense. The deep cut through 
which the railroad runs was strown with dead and wounded men on that fatal day. 

The Confederate retreat was caused by the information received during the battle, 
that a heavy force of Federal infantry was rapidly approaching from Kennesaw Moun- 
tain, to the relief of the garrison, and was close at hand.* 

Early in the day. General Sherman, -vho was on the top of Kennesaw Mountain, hav- 
ing ordered re-enforcements forward, succeeded in exchanging messages with the signal 
station on Allatoona heights. He received intelligence that Corse had arrived. 

From these messages, and the attendant thrilling circumstances, have come the gospel 
hymn, which is now sung wherever the English language is being used for evangelizing 
the world : 

" Ho ! my comrades, see the signal 
Waving in the sky ! 
Re-enforcements now appearing, 
Victory is nigh ! 
Chorus.— ''Hold the fort ; for I am coming," etc. 

The most characteristic memorial of this blood\- ami famous struggle, which now 
salutes the eye of the tourist, as the train darts through the deep, fern-lined pass, is a 
lone grave at its northwestern end, immediately by the track, on the west side. This 
is the resting place of a Confederate soldier, who was buried on the spot where he fell. 

For years past the track-hands of the Western & Atlancic Railroad have held this 
grave under their special charge, and made attention to it a sacrrd dutv. Whenever their 



*0n their retreat, the Confederates came to the block-house, which the Federals had built at the railroad bridge 
over Allatoona Creek. General French summoned the garrison to surrender. They refused, and he then opened a hot 
musketry fire upon them, and also turned his cannon against the position. These soon forced the rr sing of the white flag. 



50 



ll'AK SCE.VES ON THE IV. 



& A. 



periodic ithukIs brin<^ thcin hither, they sec that it is kept clear of rubbish, and that the 
head- and foot-stones are firm. 

A neat marble head-stone has been placed here, on which is the following inscription: 

.-;// 

UNKNOWN HERO, 

He died for ilie cause 

lie thought 7C'tis right. 

The Mariilla Journal thus touchingly refers to this memorial : 

" He was some mother's 
tlarling, and perhaps when 
the cruel war was over, she 
wiped her tear-bedimmed 
eyes and through her specta- 
cles watched for the coming 
of her soldier bo), but ne 
came not. Still she prayea 
and gazed down the road 
and scanned the face of 
every passer-by; every foot- 
step that sounded on the 
walk her eager ears caught 
up with expectancy; her 
heart beat faster and thrilled 
with hope; her eyes kindled 
with joy; her wrinkled face 
lighted up with a smile, and 
her old arms, no doubt, in- 
voluntarily went out to clasp 
to her bosom her darling 
boy; but she was doomed to 
disappointment ; it was her 
neighbor's boy who had re- 
turned, and not her's; and 
sadly she turueil back to her 
old arm chair by the window, 
she choked down the heart 
sobs and cleared away the unbidden tears, and wondered why herhox did not come. No tidings 
came of his whereabouts. She did not know that the boy whom she saw proudly leave home in 
his new suit of gray in response to his country's call, at that moment fdled an unknown grave. 
Perhaps, after many years of waiting, she too has gone over the river of death, and, with her boy, 
will be a shadowy witness of the erection of the head-stone to the memory of '.\n Unknown Hero." " 

Taking up again the thread of our narrative, General Sherman says of the new position 
assumed by the Confederate army, after falling back from New Hope Church ami Allatoona: 

"On the loth day of June, the whole combined army moved forward si.\ miles to Big Shanty 
a station on the railroad ; whence we had a good view ot the enemy's position, which embraced 










THE SOLDIER'S GRAVE. 
On the Western & Atlantic Railroad, in Allatoona Pass. 




ALLATOONA (SIGNAL) MOUNTAIN. 
As seen from the Western & Atlantic Railroad, one mile north of Aljatoona Pass. 



three prominent hills, known as Kennesaw, Pine Mountain and Lost Mountain. On each of these 
hills the enemy had signal stations and fresh lines of parapets. Heavy masses of infantry could 
be distinctly seen with the naked eye, and it was manifest that Johnston had chosen his ground well, 
and with deliberation had prepared for battle ; but his line was at least ten miles in extent, — too 
long in my judgment to be held successfully by his force, then estimated at sixty thousand. As his 
position, however, gave him a perfect view over our field, we had to proceed with due caution. 
McPherson had the left, following the railroad, which curved around the north base of Kennesaw ; 
Thomas, the center, obliqued to the right, deployed below Kennesaw and facing Pine Hill : and 
Schofield, somewhat refused, was on the general right ; looking south, toward Lost Mountain." — 
(Memoirs, Vol. II., page 51.) 

Early in June, there was quite a sharp cavalry fight near Big Shanty, in which the 
Confederates were successful. 

During the next few days, the cavalry on both sides was very active ; there being almost 
constant skirmishing in the neighborhood of the railroad. This had been torn up by the 
Confederates, but was rebuilt by the Federals, and, on the 12th, the Etowah bridge having 
been restored, the Confederates heard the whistle of the locomotives arriving at Big Shanty.''* 

The lines of the two armies were constantly being drawn closer to each other, and, by 
the 14th of June, it became evident that those of the Confederates were too attenuated 
for them to longer hold Pine Mountain. 

Generals Johnston, Hardee and Polk, accordingly, rode to the top of this mountain, 
which was held by Bate's division, to view the situation, and select some better position. 



* Big Shanty is famous as being the place where occurred the " Capture of a Locomotive," .■\pril 12, 1862. Here, 
about twenty Federal soldiers, in disguise, seized an engine and three cars, and dashed northward, with the intention of 
burning the bridges on the Western & Atlantic Railroad. After a hot pursuit they were overtaken and captured near 
Ringgold. The " General," the engine they seized, is still pulling a passenger train on the W. & A. R. R. 




CONFEDERATES CAPTURING THE BLOCK HOUSE. 

At the Western & Atlantic Railroad bridge over the Allatoona Creek. 

October ,,-, 1S64. 

Their presence attracted a body of soldiers ; and General Sherman, seeing the group, and 
supposing that it might possibly be well to scatter them, told General Howard to order the 
commander of one of his batteries to fire upon them. General Polk was struck in the 
breast by an unexploded shell and killed. His death filled the entire South with grief. 

The next morning there was a general advance by the Federal army against the Con- 
federate positions, in which Blair's freshly-arrived corps of McPiierson's army carried a 
spur of the hills, near the railroad, commanding the intrenched line of Hood's skirmishers, 
and forced Hood back behind Noonday Creek. By this movement an entire Alabama 
regiment was surrounded and captured. 

The same morning, Thomas pushed his front sharply to the east of Pine Mountain. 
The Confederate advanced-guard held the trenches connecting their principal lines with 
the mountain, and also some other detached works covering these. Hooker, with his 
corps, assaulted these works, and, after quite a struggle, captured them. He then hurled 
Geary's division against the main line; but here met, in Cleburne, more than his match, 
and, after a very gallant fight, Geary was forced to give over the attempt, with a loss 
of several hundred men. No one ever made a success in assaulting Cleburne. 

On the 15th of June, the Confederates abandoned Pine Mountain ; and. on the i6th, 
the Federals, having secured possession of some high ground frtim which their artillery 



WAR SCENES ON THE IV. & A. 



53 



was able to enfilade a good portion of Hardee's line, and also to sweep the road from 
Gilgal Church to Marietta, for some distance, it was found necessary to evacuate Lost 
Mountain also. 

They accordingly fell back to a position on the high grounds east of Mud Creek, about 
one mile west of the western end of Kennesaw Mountain, facing to the west. Their 
extreme left occupied the crest of a steep cliff, on which General Hardee had planted 
some batteries which commanded the deep, wide valley in their front, across the creek. 

Finding, however, that a portion of their line was exposed to an enfilading fire from 
the Federal batteries on the opposite hills, and, the Federal right having been extended 
till it turned Hardee's flank, the Confederates, after obstinate fighting during the i8th, in 




THE RIFLE-PITS BEFORE KENNESAW. 
June, iSb-f. 

which Wood's and Newton's divisions of Howard's corps captured and held a portion of 
their outer works, retired to another position, which included the crest of Kennesaw 
Mountain, thence running to its western end, and, from this, southward some three miles. 

General Johnston says of this movement : 

"Another position, inchiding the crest of Kennesaw, was chosen on the 17th, and prepared for 
occupation under the direction of Colonel Prestman. The troops were placed on this line on the 



64 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



i9tli: Hood's corps massed between the railroad and that from Marietta to Canton; I.oring's, with 
a division (his own, commanded by Featherston) between the railroad and eastern base of the 
mountain; and Walthall's and French's along the crest of the short ridge — French's left reaching 
its southwestern base, and Hardee's from French's left almost due south across the Lost Mountain 
antl Marietta Road, to the brow of the high ground immediately north of the branch of Nose's Creek 
that runs from Marietta — Walker's division on the right, Date's next, then Cleburne's and Cheat- 
ham's on the left." — (Johnston's Narrative, pages 338, 339.) 
The Federal General Cox also says : 

"The key of the new Confederate line was Kennesaw Mountain, which is the summit of the 
watershed, and whose wood-covered sides, breaking down into deep ravines, made an impregnable 
military position, whilst its summit, overlooking the country in all directions, made concealment of 
movements on Sherman's part next to impossible." — (" Atlanta," page 103.) 

During this period, there had been for over three weeks almost dail)- rains, which 
raised the streams, and, by making the roads nearly impassable, were a source of great 
annoyance to both armies. On more than one occasion, full-line attacks had been made 
in the midst of furious thunderstorms, which, it is said, " made it difficult to distinguish 
between the discharges of artillcr}-, at close quarters, and the rattling thunder." 

During this same period, also, there was daily skirmishing between the two 
armies from one end of the line to the other, and, while the 
sun shone, there was scarcely an hour in which one could 

hear the incessant " pop," " pop " ^J^g!si:i^^r ^^''^'^X''^ '^s j:^Sfy '^.y 

of musketry, from the rifle-pits, 
which dotted the hillsides and 
woody valleys, or from behind 
the trees, fences, or any species 
of cover which tlie combatants 

could secure. This frequently lasted until far into the night, when the continuous flashes 
of light in the forest simulated the appearance of myriads of fire-flies. The losses by both 
armies, from this species of warfare, were heavier than in the main engagements. 

On the 20th, the most considerable cavalry fight of the campaign occurred, on the 
Confederate right, between the commands of Wheeler and Garrard. The Federals were 
worsted in this affair, and lost two standards, etc. 

The Federal army, during this same period, was making constant extensions south- 
ward, which forced corresponding movements by the Confederates. 

Hood's corps was transferred from the Confederate right to their extreme left; and 
Johnston ordered Hood to endeavor to prevent any progress of Sherman's right toward 
the railroad, the latter and the Confederate intrenchments being nearly parallel, and 
scarcely more than three miles apart. General Johnston says, " Our position, con- 
sequentlj', was a very hazardous one." 

During this same period the Confederates were placing batteries upon the twin crests 
of Kennesaw Mountain. Big Kennesaw, the higher of the two, runs up into a peak about 
six or seven hundred feet above the surrounding country, affording room for only a few 
guns. Little Kennesaw, on the contrary, consists of a commanding ridge, extending for 






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56 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

from seven liuiulred to a thousand feet, before the descent begins at each end ; and is a 
magnificent position for artillery. General French, whose division covered this ridge, on 
about the 20th of the month, planted nine guns upon it. The road leading to the crest 
being difficult of ascent, and exposed to the fire of the Federal batteries on the neighbor- 
ing heights, the Confederates, after some search, found a route behind the mountain, up 
which they dragged the guns by ropes (prolonges). This labor was undertaken late 
in the evening, and continued through the night, and, by daylight next morning, Guibor's 
and Ward's batteries were planted on Little Kennesaw, behind strongly constructed works. 
Hoskins's battery was also placed on the descending slope of the western end of the ridge, 
to command the approaches to the infantry line farther down. The timber growth on 
the mountain concealed these from the view of the Federals. 

On the morning of the 22d, a furious bombardment was opened, from these batteries, 
upon the Federal camps and intrenchments, in the fields and forests below, which com- 
pelled a disorderly retreat to the rear by the wagon trains, etc., and greatly annoyed the 
forces manning the breastworks. Towards night the Confederates opened these guns again 
upon their enemy; and at ele\'en P. M. the bombardment was renewed. In the darkness 
this is said to have presented a magnificent spectacle to those on the surrounding hills 
and valleys, the flashes of light, and the glare on the rising clouds of smoke, seeming to 
crown the lordly mountain with a tiara of fire. 

Within the ne.xt day or so. General Sherman, it is stated, brought 120 guns to 
bear against this position, which number was increased later to 140. From these the 
bombardment of the batteries on the crest of the mountain is said to have been terrific, 
and to have virtually silenced the Confederate guns. The top of the ridge was covered 
with trees and limbs felled by the shells. Thousands of these passed high over the 
mountain, exploding in the air; or, falling in the forest, spread destruction almost amid 
the very suburbs of Marietta. 

On the 22d of June, occurred quite a hot fight between Hood's corps, and Schofield's 
and Hooker's troops. The Federals attacked the Confederates, but were repulsed. The 
latter, in turn, attempted to carry the Federal position ; but, after seizing a line of breast- 
works, suffered a severe repulse. 

In an assault upon an intrenched batter}-, on a high, bare hill, the)' were dri\'en back, 
after a bloody fight, with a loss of about i,cxx)men. This is usually known as the battle 
of Kulp's (or, more properly, Kolb's,) Farm. 

The general situation at about this period is well summarized in a dispatch from 
General Sherman to General Halleck, dated June 23d: 

" We continue to press forward on the principle of an advance against fortified positions. 
The whole country is one vast fort, and Johnston must have at least fifty miles of connected 
trenches with abatis and finished batteries. We gain ground daily, fighting all the time. * * * 
Our lines are now in close contact, and the fighting is incessant, with a good deal of artillery fire. .\s 
fast as we gain one position the enemy has another all ready, but I think he will soon have to let go 
Kennesaw, which is the key to the whole country. The weather is now better, and the roads are 
drying up fast." — (Memoirs, Vol. 11., pages 59, 60.) 



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68 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

It is not im[)ropcr to state here that the countr)- around Kennesaw Mountain, New 
Hope Church and Allatoona, is broken up into numerous detached hills and irregular 
ridges ; divided by ravines or narrow valleys. It was impossible, therefore, for an army, 
largely outnumbered, to procure any line of defence, several miles long, which would be, 
at all points, strong, inasmuch as its enemy, apart from the power to turn its flanks, could 
also find numerous high places in its immediate front overlooking and commanding its 
positions across the occasional valleys ; while the thick cover of the forests and under- 
growth veiled the movements of troops, being massed for a rush upon its weak points, or 
for the attack upon steep hills, whose armed occupants were, by the nature of the ground, 
even sometimes in the middle of the line, isolated from necessary support. 

While in nowise detracting, therefore, from the bravery and fortitude of the Federal 
soldiery, which certainly won its laurels in this momentous and picturesque campaign, yet 
the masterly skill and strategic genius displayed by Johnston in handling his arm\-, which 
was faced and flanked in this craggy wilderness by a force which had two muskets to its 
one, and the cheerful endurance and persistent courage of his men, and their enthusiastic 
devotion to and confidence in their commander, were almost wonderful. 

On the 34th of June, a very vigorous attack was made upon Hardee's position, imme- 
diately southwest of Kennesaw Mountain. On the next day a portion of Hood's corps, on 
the Confederate left, was likewise assaulted ; but, in each instance, the Federals were repulsed. 

These daily combats, and extensions of the Federal lines, also, made those of the 
Confederates so long, and so harrassed them, that there was serious danger of the 
Federals breaking through at some weak point. Sherman, with his preponderance of num- 
bers, was evidentl}' aiming to accomplish this very result, if possible. In fact, he says: 

-'During the 24th anti 25th of June General Schofield extended his right as far as prudent, so 
as to compel the enemy to thin out his lines correspondingly, with liie intention to make two strong 
assaults at points where success would give us the greatest advantage. * * * j reasoned that 
if we could make a breach anywhere near the rebel centre, and thrust in a strong head of column, 
that with the one moiety of our army we could hold in check the corresponding firing of the enemy, 
and with the other sweep in flank and overwhelm the other half." — (Memoirs, Vol. II., page 60.) 

At about ten o'clock in the morning of the 25th, the Confederate batteries on the 
crest of Kennesaw opened fire upon the Federals. The latter replied furiously, and for 
an hour there was a grand artillery iluel. This was renewed during the afternoon, and was 
a majestic spectacle ; but the damage to both sides was small. 

General French thus graphically describes the situation on this date: 

"From the top of the mountain the vast panorama is ever changing. There are now large 
trains to the left of Lost Mountain and at Big Shanty, and wagons are moving to and fro every- 
where. Encampments of hospitals, quartermasters, commissaries, cavalry, and infantry whiten the 
plain here and there as far as the eye can reach. Our side of the line looks narrow, poor, and life- 
less, with but little canvass in spots that contrasts with the green foliage. 

"The usual flank extension is going on. Troops on both sides move to left, and now the blue 
smoke of the musket discloses the line by day trending away, far away south toward the Chatta- 
hoochee, and by night it is marked, at times, by the red glow of the artillery, amidst the spark-like 
flash of small arms that looks in the distance like innumerable fire-flies." 



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MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



After these prcliminan- contests, wliicli severely tested the bravery and endurance of 
both armies, on the 27th of June, 1864, occurred the great and famous battle of Kennesaw 
Mountain ; which was probably the distinctive battle between Dalton and Atlanta, of the 
Atlanta campaign — a battle which will ever hold its position, on the page of history, as 
being one which conferred imperishable lustre upon the valor of American soldiery— the 
attack being made with vigor, pluck and persistence, which in themselves eminently 
deserved success, and being met with such courage and fortitude as alone could have 
made the efforts of their antagonists futile. 

Of this memorable struggle, the two commanding Generals summarize as follows: 

"In the morning of the 27th, after a furious cannonade, the Federal army made a general 
assault upon the Confederate position, — which was received everywhere with firmness, and repelled 

with a loss to the assailants enor- 
mously disproportionate to that which 
they inflicted. At several points the 
characteristic fortitude of the North- 
western soldiers held them under a 
close and destructive fire long after 
reasonable hope of success was gone. 
The attack upon Loring's corps was 
by the Army of Tennessee ; that upon 
Hardee's by the Army of the Cum- 
berland. The principal efforts of the 
enemy were directed against Loring's 
right and left brigades, and the left 
of Hardee's corps." — (Johnston's 
Narrative, page 341.) 

"About 9 A. M. of the day 
appointed the troops moved to the 
assault, and all along our lines for 
ten miles a furious fire of artillery 
and musketry was kept up. At all 
points tiie enemy met us with deter- 
niinetl courage and in great force. 
;\lcl'herson's attacking column fought 
up the face of the lesser Kennesaw, but could not reach the summit. About a mile to the right 
(just below the Dallas Road) Thomas's assaulting column reached the parapet, where Brigadier- 
General Harker was shot down, mortally wounded, and Brigadier-C.eneral McCook (my old law 
partner) was desperately wounded, from the effects of which he afterwards died. By 11.30 the 
assault was in fact over, and had failed. We had not broken the rebel line at either point, but our 
assaulting columns held their ground within a few yards of the rebel trenches, and there covered 
themselves with parapet." — (Smkrman's Memoirs, Vol. H., pages 60, 61.) 

It would be hard to attempt to go into details of this masterly combat without being 
betrayed into a requisition for very much more space than this little publication will admit. 

The attempt upon the Confederate right, which lay east of Kennesaw Mountain, 
running across the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and north of the present station. 




'ni#s, NONTHHur A Cu. 



WuRu, SuFFAkO, H 



J-VAR SCENES ON THE IV. &■ A. 61 

Elizabeth, to the hills, some hundreds of yards beyond, was by Logan's corps, formed in 
three lines, and supported by Blair and Dodge, with their respective corps, a portion of 
which fronted the mountain also, and made strong demonstrations against it, accompanying 
them with heavy and constant firing. They first fell upon Nelson's (Twelfth Louisiana) 
regiment, which occupied a strong line of rifle-pits, six hundred yards in front of the main 
intrenchments. These held their ground, keeping up a hot fusilade, until the first Federal 
ranks had approached within twenty-five paces, and then hastily retired to the Confederate 
line of battle. 

The Federal troops advanced steadily, and soon came within musket shot of 
Featherston's entire front. A destructive fire was here opened upon them from the 
intrenchments, which compelled a halt ; but, taking position in the forest, amid the tangled 
undergrowth, they kept, in return, a furious fire upon the Confederates. The batteries 
upon the mountain, and those located along Featherston's lines, poured forth a terrific 
storm of shot and shell upon their front and flanks. For almost an hour they gamely held 
their position, unable to advance and reluctant to retreat ; but, at length, having lost 
seven commanding officers of regiments and hundreds of men, some of them within 
thirty feet of the Confederates' principal works, Logan ordered his men to retire to the 
line of rifle-pits they had first captured. 

During this same time an impetuous assault was made upon Wheeler's troops, and 
Ouarles's brigade of Walthall's division, in front of and upon the mountain, in the shelter 
of rifle-pits. A body of Federals charged into Quarles's rifle-pits, where most of them 
were killed or captured. Many of the Federals, also, were picked off by the Confederate 
skirmishers, firing from behind trees, rocks, etc., on the side of the mountain. These were 
scattered irregularly among the crags and forest growth below the Confederate breast- 
works ; but high enough above the field to command a full view over it, and the Federal 
advance, which is said to have been made by a portion of Blair's corps. 

Against the lesser Kennesaw there was a heavy demonstration and hot fire main- 
tained in front ; and a very vigorous charge by 5,500 specially chosen troops was made 
upon the western end of the mountain, which was held by a portion of French's division. 

The attack upon Cockrell's Missouri brigade, which occupied the extreme west of the 
ridge, on French's left, was very determined and impetuous — the Federal advance driving 
in the skirmishers, and pressing resolutely forward till within about twenty paces of the 
Confederate line ; but here it was met by a cool steadiness which checked and finally 
repulsed it. This attempt was principally by Howard's corps, under the cover of the 
concentration of about fifty field-pieces, which, bursting forth from battery to battery, 
were bombarding the Confederate position with terrible fury. The assailing columns like- 
wise advanced rapidly from the west, and dashed fiercely through the skirmishers on 
Walker's right, immediately south of the mountain, taking in reverse those on the right 
and left, while they were also being attacked in front. Within a few minutes about eighty 
of Walker's men, it is said, had been bayoneted or captured in their rifle-pits. 

W^alker's line was assaulted with great vigor; but here, in addition to the musketry 
fire from his front, the Federals were enfiladed by that of the Confederate batteries on 



62 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

Little Kcnnesaw, some of the guns of which General h'rench had rolled back from facing 
north, and turned upon them. This tempest of bombshells, yrape and canister, within a 
short time, drove them back, and relieved Walker from the attack. 

An exciting episode of the battle here occurred when a schrajinel shot, with a smoking 
fuse, passed under the headlog, and fell amony the men in the ditch. A stampede instantly 
commenced, in the midst of which a Georgia sergeant leaped forward, seized the projectile, 
and threw it out of the trenches, where the explosion did no harm. 

But the most determined and powerful assault was made by Palmer's corps of the 
Army of the Cumberland, with Hooker in reserve, and with such otlier support as could 
be spared, upon the intrenchments held by Cheatham's and Cleburne's divisions, which 
extended through the rolling country south of the mountain. The Federal troops, several 
lines deep, conscious of their very decided superiority in numbers, pressed forward, with 
bayonets glistening and banners waving, and with w ild cheers, through the forest, w hich was 
badly tangled with undergrowth, until they came almost to the Confederate fortifications. 

Here an a])palling fire was opened upon them from all along the works. By 
Cleburne's troops, particularly, they were permitted to approach within nearly twenty 
paces before a gun was fired. Then, there burst forth from beneath the headlogs a fearful 
sheet of flame and smoke, and, at one or two points, almost the entire Federal column 
was prostrated by the volley. 

Succeeding this murderous sweep of death, there arose from behind tlie intrenchments 
a wild and piercing sound. It was the "rebel yell." Often, ere this, hail it been heard on 
the fields of strife ; but never before had it smote the ears of those whom it now greeted 
with more daring defiance than in this minute of horror and blood. Above the roar of 
battle, clear and shrill, it rang out, and again and yet again was it re-echoed from the 
mountain crags back to the woody recesses of the plain. 

Like an inspiration from the genii of ruin, it seemed to arouse those from whose 
throats it leaped forth, to more than mortal energy ; and now, from ten thousand muskets, 
and from a score of cannon there poured forth an incessant blaze, which scattered 
carnage and death for hundreds of yards around. 

This storm of missiles from the earthworks in front was so destructive that further 
advance was impossible. The ground and the forest were torn up by musket balls, grape 
and canister, solid shot, and exploding bombs. From French's batteries on the crest of 
Kennesaw, also, a furious bombardment was directed upon them. So continuous and 
rapid was this that the mountain seemed literally on fire; and the murky clouds of smoke, 
enveloping its summit, and rising majestically toward the heavens, combined with the 
tumultuous roar from their midst, presented, in terrific grandeur, the veritable appearance 
of a volcanic eruption ; while the air, above and around the assaulting columns, was obscured 
by the puffs of smoke from the bursting shells, which hurled their fragments in a thousand 
directions among the Federal ranks, or, screaming through the forest, tore whole trees to 
pieces, scattering the branches with swaths of destruction on e\'ery side. 

The Federal troops, dreadfully scourged, lay down upon the ground, within range of 
the murderous musketry fire of their enem}-, and sought all the shelter possible, in the 




/V^V-:^- ^U 



v^.- ^^^-^^t^^-- 



THE BATTLE OF KENNESAW MOUNTAIN.— " THE DEAD ANGLE." 

Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, On the line oi the Western ^: Atlantic R. R, near Marietta, C,a. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, 

Commanding Confederate States Army. 7uue 27, jSb^. Commanding United States Army. 

From a Picture Drawn by a Confederate Participant, 

McCook's assault at the Salient on Cheatham's line. Marker also struck the right of the Angle, and Mitchell its left. A portion 

of Maney's brigade held the Angle. For about 100 feet of the works most heavily assaulted, the Confederates had no 

headlogs. After the battle the Confederates picked up and delivered to the Federals 3^; dead in front 

of Maney's Hne, and 415 in front of Vaughn's brigade on Maney's right. The Confederates 

called this point the "Dead Angle," because of the great number of the Federal 

dead who fell immediately before it. 



They come like the tornado's dash, 
Which terror spreads, and woe, 

But quickly, ah I on them doth flash 
The lightning of our blow. 

They come, ten thousand strong and lithe. 

They fall like wheat before the scythe. 



64 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

meantime poiirini,^ back volley after volley in return ; and finally intrenched themselves 
beneath this fearful tempest — it being safer to remain than to flee. 

Once, under General Harker's leadership, they attempted to renew the assault; but, 
almost at the very parapet, Marker fell, mortally wounded, and the whole line was swept 
back before the awful iron hail which was poured into their faces. At one or two points 
the charging columns pressed forward to the very ditches before the breastworks, and some 
of their dead were found against the works themselves. 

The fall of General 1 larker was greatly deplored by ofificers and men alike. Gallant, 
dashing and generous, he had conspicuously distinguished himself on every field of battle 
from Chickamauga to Kennesaw inclusive; and, of all the field ofificers in the Federal army, 
was probably more admired for plucky courage, and more highly esteemed for genial, 
sociable personal traits, than any of his comrade leaders. 

In the midst of the iiiclcc attending this last dash, a United States flag was planted 
on Cheatham's works. A Confederate captain instantly sprang to the top to gain possession 
of this. The F"ederal color-bearer faced him bravely, and a hand-to-hand struggle ensued 
between the two over the flag, which resulted in the Tennesseean's being shot dead by his 
antagonist. But the next instant a dozen bullets, fired from within the intrenchments, 
riddled the intrepid color-bearer, and he fell, slain, with his hand tightly clasped around 
the staff of the banner he had defended so well ; but which now became the trophy of the 
exultant Confederates. 

Near this same point a Confederate sergeant leaped over the works, seized the standard 
of the 27th Illinois regiment, wrested it from the bearer, and brought it triumphant!)- back 
with him. For this daring act General Hardee presented the flag to its captor. 

Just after the repulse of this second desperate assault, the dry leaves, etc., in the forest, 
before General Cleburne's intrenchments, were set on fire by the bombshells and gun-wad- 
ding and began burning rapidly around the Federal wounded. This horrible scene was 
observed by the Confederates, who were ordered instantly to cease firing, and one of their 
commanders (Col. W. H. Martin, of Arkansas) called to the Federals, and stated that, as 
an act of humanity, his men would suspend further battle until the assailants could carry 
off their wounded, who were in danger of being burnt alive. The offer was accepted, and 
the Federal wounded were rescued from the awful fate which threatened them ; and then 
the combat was renewed by the two sides with the most determined zeal. 

In the meantime, along the entire line for miles, there was maintained between both 
armies a tremendous fire of artillery and musketry. From the crest of Kennesaw Mountain, 
this is said to have presented an imposing panorama. General French says of it . 

" We sat there, perhaps an hour, enjoying a bird's-eye view of one of the most magnificent 
siglits ever allotted to man — to look down upon an hundred and lifty thousand men arrayed in the 
strife of battle on the plain below. As the infantry closed in the blue smoke of the musket marked 
out our line for miles, while over it, rose in cumuli-like clouds the white smoke of the artillery. 
Through the rifts of smoke, or, as it was wafted aside by the wind, we could see tiie assault made 
on Cheatham, and there the struggle was hard, and there it lasted longest. So many guns were 
trained on those by our side, and so incessant was the roar of cannon and the sharp e.vplosion 



66 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



of shells, that naught else could be heard. * * * The battle, in its entirety, became a pageantry 
on a grand scale, and barren of results, because the attacking columns were too small in numbers, 
considering the character of the troops they knew they would encounter." 

In this great struggle the Federal army numbered about or over loo.OOO men, the 
Confederates had about 55,000 present; the Confederate loss, in killed, wounded and 
missing, was 808 men ; that of the Federals has never been exactly reported, but it is 
conceded that it went up into the thousands. 

Sherman's generals, after some three hours, withdrew their shattered battalions from 
nearl)- all the points of assault, and, for one time, there was a confessed failure of a great 
move in the campaign. 

But wasting no time in idle regrets, the Federal commander ordered a strong move- 
ment down the valley of Olley's Creek, toward the Chattahoochee. 

June 29th, he wired General Halleck in reference to this: " I am accumulating stores 
that will enable me to cut loose from the railroad for a time and avoid the Kennesaw Hill, 
which gives the enemy too mucli advantage." 




July 1st, he again wired him: " By this movement, I think I can force Johnston to 
move his whole army out from Kennesaw to defend his railroad and the Chattahoochee, 
when I will (by the left flank) reach the railroad below Marietta." 

Johnston, however, seeing that this movement towards the south would result in 
breaking his communications with Atlanta, evacuated Kennesaw Mountain and Marietta 
during the ist and 2d of July, the last columns withdrawing in the night of the latter. 

While the evacuation was going on, under General Johnston's orders, a terrific bom- 
bardment of the Federal positions was maintained from the batteries on the crest of the 
mountain, with the idea of distracting the attention of the Federals, and leading to the 
belief that possibly a sortie was contemplated from some portion of the Confederate lines. 

During the afternoon of July 2d, the Confederates withdrew their guns from 
Kennesaw Mountain. Major Storrs, of General French's command, who was in partial 
charge, describes this feat as follows: 

" It had been predicted that our batteries could not be safely withdrawn in case of retreat. 
An order came one day to remove them between sundown and dark; or else spike the guns and 
destroy the carriages. Routes were trimmed out straight down immediately in rear of each section, 
and every gun arrived at the base of the mountain by dark, without attracting a single shot from 
the enemy. We had been keeping our embrasures covered with brush to conceal our movements 
when preparing to deliver a shot, so that everything was hidden. On the left, the upper part of a 



S c ^ 

° - S 



^5S 

^ > H 

3- - > 

^ H " 
- n > 

^ ?3 " 

a. '± 

O OJ 

s 




68 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 



man shody while standing, could be seen by the enemy, and so Lieutenants Harris and Murphy 
of Guibors battery, with their men, crawled on their hands and knees while withdrawing the left 
section and lowered those two pieces over a declivity by means of ropes." 

From Marietta, Johnston fell back to a new position, which had been prepared by 
Colonel Prestman. This consisted of what General Sherman calls one of the strongest 
pieces of field fortification he ever saw. It ran from the Chattahoochee River south of 
the Western & Atlantic Railroad, up through the hill country, across it, thence joining the 
river again some two or three miles above,— its entire length being several miles. 

Sherman thought that in the 
hurry of evacuation Johnston's 
army would be in considerable 
confusion ; hence, pressed his col- 
umns forward with great energy, 
to crush the Confederates, if possi- 
ble ; but it was -soon demonstrated 
that Johnston had prepared 
against this very contingency by 
throwing up a long east and west 
line of intrenchments, which cross- 
ed the railroad at Ruff's Station, 
and also another, crossing it at 
Smyrna. These delayed the Fed- 
erals so very much that the pursuit 
accomplished nothing in the re- 
sults Sherman wished. 

Sherman's opinion of John- 
ston's shrewdness and forethought 
in this matter was expressed in a 
dispatch, wherein he said: "We 
ought to have caught Johnston on his retreat, but he had prepared the way too well." 
There was a sharp fight at the works at Ruff's, July 3d: and the 4th of July was 
celebrated by quite a struggle at the intrenchments at Smyrna, in which the Federals 
were repulsed. General Noyes of Ohio here lost his leg, and General Sherman says: 
"I came very near being shot myself." The Federals, however, made a strong demonstra- 
tion against the line near the Chattahoochee; but, being met b\- a heavv fire, were 
compelled to draw off. 

During the ne.vt few days, with a strong array confronting the Confederate 
fortifications, several columns were also thrown out by Sherman, north ami south of 
Johnston's position, for a number of miles each way, which resulted in securing the 
possession of one or two crossings over the Chattahoochee. Accordingly, after some 
fighting at several points, Johnston evacuated this position, and crossed the Chattahoochee 
River, burning the railroad bridge. 





5*nfilPllP' 



V"" 



70 



MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 




The two armies, now almost in tlie snijurbs of Atlanta, hctjan prcparini;- for what 
would have been a tedious siege, when, on the 17th of July, General Jnlmston was relieved 
of the command of the army, and General Hood appointed to succeed him. 

This change of commanders by the Confederate government amounted to a change of 
programme; and Sherman, being almost intuitively aware of it, changed his tactics 

accordingly, and, instead of assaulting or making offensive 
movements against the Confederate lines, assumed a 
strong position on Peachtree Creek, northward of Atlanta. 
On the 20th of Jul}-, General Hood made an impetu- 
ous assault upon the Federal army; but the Confederates 
were worsted in the battle, and sustained considerable loss. 
The heavy battle of the 22d of July, between Atlanta 
and Decatur, in which General McPherson and the Con- 
federate General Walker were killed, gained no advantage 
to the Confederates ; nor did the battle of Ezra Church, 
on the 28th of July. 

The mistake which was made in removing the pru- 
dent and sagacious Johnston, and abandoning his defen- 
sive tactics, substituting therefor an aggressive policy by 
an army which had scarcely more than half its enemy's numbers, is one which, in the 
present day, finds almost no one to defend it. 

" But turn the page, let War's dread name 

Be buried with his dead; 
O'er every scar let peaceful Fame 

Her downy mantle spread: 
Beat into useful plowshares now 

The once blood-dripping sword. 
And from each council-chamber vow 

To banish fierce discord ! " 

So let us cease the recital of the deeds of strife and of ruin, which, over twenty years 
ago, were enacted with the thunder of cannon, the waving of banners, and all the 
"gorgeous panoply of war," amid the craggy mountains, and forest-covered hills and 
valleys, and by the rushing rivers of North Georgia. High in the Temple of Fame glitter 
the names of Chickamauga, Ringgold, Resaca, Allatoona, Kennesaw Mountain and 
Atlanta, and of the heroes, who, around them, fought for their Union, their cause, and 
their flag. Whether mistaken or true Mere their teachings let us presume not to judge. 
Sufficient it is that over two hundred thousand men, upon these fields of carnage, bared 
their breasts to sustain their convictions, and eighty-eight thousand shed their blood in 
defence of what they thought was right. 

The long struggle is ended ; the wail of humiliation is hushed, and the luizza of proud 
triumph is over; the cypress has draped the coffins of the vanquished, and the laurel has 
crowned the victor's brow. 




DEATH OF GEN J B McPHERSON 
In Battle of Atlanta, Jul> 2 1864 



The " lost cause " is but a memory : its last trumpet-note has died away upon the air, 
its last tattoo has beat, its cannon, dismounted, no longer boom forth even the funeral 
minute guns. Its starry-cross flag, sanctified by the blood of the loved and the brave, is 
cherished only as a relic of a past day, glorious to fame, but forevermore departed. The 
reality of its existence was like that of its lone bark, the Alabama, which fearlessly went 
forth upon the world's broad ocean, cleaving a way to historic glory ; but, finding among all 
the nations no friendly fleet to join her, at last, before the guns of her enemy, went down 
beneath the stormy billows, carrying with her, her power and her flag; but leaving 
behind a name whose like the stars have never shone upon. 

So beneath the waters let the heart-burnings over the strife and woes of the past be 
buried. The tempest of blood which drenched our land has ceased ; its sulphurous clouds 
have rolled away, and the beams of the sun of reconciliation and restored union are 
lighting the sky over mountain and dale. - The echoes of the storm are fast being stilled 
in the ears of those who once invoked it ; but yet, like the voice of thunder, they roll 
forth to the world the defiance of American manhood to whomsoever dare strike " the 



72 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. 

old flag" or " tlic lantl wc h)\-e " ; and in the hearts of tliose who once strove, there rules, 
for the dead of either side who gave their lives for their convictions, the sentiment which 
one wrote of the humble grave in Allatoona Pass, ere he knew under which flag its 
occupant had shed his blood : 

" In the railroad cut there's a lonely grave 
Which the track-men hold sacred to care : 
They have piled 'round it stones, and for it they save 
Every flower, when their task calls them there. 

"Away from the home of his love, 
Away from his sweetheart or wife, 
Away from his mother, whose prayers went above, 
He gave for his country his life. 

" We know not if, wearing the blue, he came 
'Neath the ' bright starry banner ' arrayed. 
And, dying, that it o'er the mountain of fame 
Might forever in triumph wave, prayed. 

''Or we know not if, 'neath the South's cross flag 
He rush'd forth, his country's defender. 
Valiant, smote those who her cause down would drag. 
And only to death did surrender. 

" That, God only knows ; and so in His hand 
Let the secret unfathomed e'er rest ; 
But this we know that he died for his land, 
And the banner he thought was the best. 

" Heav'n pity the dear ones who pray'd his return, 
Hcav'n bless them, and shield them from woes, 
Heav'n grant o'er his grave to melt anger stern, 
And make brothers of those who were foes ! " 



THE OPINIONS OK 



GEN. WM.T. SHERMAN AND GEN. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON 

ABOUT THE 

''Mountain Campaigns in Georgia, or JFar Scenes on tlie IV. & A." 



FROM GEN. \V. T. SHERMAN. 



912 Garrison Avenue, 
Jos. M. Brown, Esq. St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 18, 1886. 

Westeni b' Atlantic R. R., Atlatifa, Ga. 

My Dear Sir : I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January T4th, with the embel- 
lished pamphlet entitled " The Mountain Campaigns in Georgia," and take great pleasure in 
complimenting you on having made so condensed and valuable a souvenir of the old State Railroad 
from Chattanooga to Atlanta. 

The maps are admirable, the illustrations are characteristic, and the text as near the truth as can 
be compressed in so small a space. I am willing to endorse what you record — that the Atlanta 
Campaign of 1864 would have been impossible without this road, that all our battles were fought 
for its possession, and that the Western & Atlantic Railroad of Georgia "should be the pride of 
every true American," because, "by reason of its existence the Union was saved." 

I infer you have prepared this costly pamphlet to induce travel by this route, and I will add 
that the scenery will fully repay every lover of nature's beauty and sublimity ; that every foot of 
it should be sacred ground, because it was once moistened by patriotic blood ; and that over a 
hundred miles of it was fought a continuous battle of one hundred and twenty days, during which, 
day and night, were heard the continuous boom of cannon and the sharp crack of the rifle. 

I sincerely wish for you, and all like you, all success, prosperity and happiness, in these days of 
peace, made possible by the deadly struggles between Chattanooga and Atlanta in the summer of 
1864. With great respect, your friend, 

W. T. SHERMAN. 



FROM GEN. JOSEPH E.JOHNSTON. 

Washington, D. C, Jan. 18, 1886. 
Jos. M. Brown, Esq. 

Mv Dear Sir: Your letter of the 14th, and the beautiful "War Scenes" that came by the 
same mail, were received this morning, and I thank you for them most cordially, not only for the 
pleasure they have already given me, but because you put before the public an excellent historical 
sketch in so attractive a form as to secure for operations most interesting to me the attention of 
our Southern people. I have seen no publication relating to the war so attractive in style and 
appearance. 

With friendly regards to your brother, I am. 

Yours very truly, 

J, E. JOHNSTON. 



I E JL "09 



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